Hartman wouldn't be chasing around any balls, but found his heart thumping like a sledgehammer nonetheless.

“I am grateful,” he said. “This has been nothing but great.”

Eighteen months after signing for ownership of an expansion NASL franchise, with an eye toward using organization profits to aid his Morgan's Wonderland special-needs park, it's finally game time for Hartman and team officials, who have compiled a team from scratch.

The Scorpions and Silverbacks face off at 6:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in the suburb of Chamblee. Atlanta, in the wake of a miserable 4-20-4 campaign, have overturned key parts of the roster, including the addition of the league's most experienced international player, Honudran midfielder Danilo Turcios.

San Antonio boasts a 24-man lineup populated with athletes from Mexico, Brazil, England and the Netherlands, among others. The squad, compiled by veteran coach Tim Hankinson and former Major League Soccer director of player personnel Michael Hitchcock, is designed around athleticism, ball protection, proactive defense and, of course, scoring.

“A lot of these guys will show experience of having played in MLS and are really the go-to guys at this point,” said Hankinson, a longtime college and pro coach who directed Tampa Bay and Colorado in the MLS. “You look to depend on them.”

The spearhead of that will be striker Pablo Campos, a tall, angular Brazilian who scored 26 goals for the Carolina RailHawks last season. Signed in January, the 29-year-old, who played in the MLS as recently as 2009, is the top returning scorer in the NASL.

He will be complemented by fellow veterans such as Javier Saavedra, 37, an aggressive midfielder whose speed and agility made him a favorite through five successful seasons with Monterrey club Tigres UANL; defender Ryan Cochrane, a one-time MLS standout in Houston; and forward Hans Denissen, who will play quarterback to Campos' receiver in the team's 4-3-3 formation.

“We need to understand what rotations we have, so when we get in the heat of the game and situations occur, that we know and the players on the field know what moves we're going to make at that point,” Hankinson said.

The Scorpions' first home game will be April 15 against Puerto Rico at Heroes Stadium.

“We want to win,” Hartman said. “We have invested properly to bring in the players and coaches to ensure we can have a good season. We want to bring San Antonio an experienced team with a great record and a championship.”

Before the first ball is rolled out tonight, however, NASL commissioner David Downs is impressed already.

“Behind the scenes, off the field, this is clearly one of the strongest franchises and one of the best owners,” Downs said. “To be getting a new team that is off to such a fast start and has such a powerful visionary owner is really a blessing for us.”

roliver@express-news.net

Twitter: RichardCOliver

At a glance

Who: Scorpions at Atlanta

What: North American Soccer League regular-season opener

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Where: Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Chamblee, Ga.

Home opener: April 15 vs. Puerto Rico, 6 p.m., Heroes Stadium

Online: sanantonioscorpions.com — for game schedule, team roster and ticket information.

Coaching staff

TIM HANKINSON

Position: Head coach

Briefly: New York City native, graduate of South Carolina, includes on résumé Major League Soccer experience as head coach, director of player development for Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Also MLS director of player development for two seasons. Has served as head coach at DePaul, Syracuse and Fort Lewis College.

ALEN MARCINA

Position: First assistant

Briefly: As founder and owner of Perform ALLOUT, a training organization, has worked with players from youth to national-team level. As player, competed professionally in six countries in eight years. In that span, played four years in NASL in Montreal, Vancouver, Puerto Rico, Minnesota and Miami.

JUAN LAMADRID

Position: Goalkeeper coach

Briefly: Played goalkeeper professionally for 10 seasons, all in Mexico. Currently on staff of Perform ALLOUT and is Trinity's goalkeeper coach for both men's and women's teams.

Outlook: As NASL's top returning scorer — Barbara now in MLS — Campos will be counted on to be Scorpions' offensive spearhead. Had six goals in preseason games and scrimmages.

DARYL SATTLER

Position: Goalkeeper

Last year: Veteran player, 31, finished up a two-year stint with FC Tampa Bay with limited playing time for NASL franchise.

Outlook: Hankinson likes Sattler's athleticism and veteran savvy of player who is entering his 10th pro season. Limited by shoulder problems after suffering season-ending injury in 2009, former Western Kentucky standout is now healthy.

RYAN COCHRANE

Position: Defender

Last year: Scored 22 goals for the New England Revolution of MLS. Cochrane, who played all or parts of four seasons with the Houston Dynamo, was counted on as veteran leader on and off field.

Outlook: Cochrane will play with motivation this season. His sister has severe disabilities, so he has passion for Scorpions' mission to provide support for Morgan's Wonderland.